Panagia

To the west of the island is the beach of Panagia(Holy Virgin) or Limnitsa (meaning small lake). In winter, pouring water from the flood and rain gathers inside the beach creating a small lake, which the locals call "Limnitsa". It is a landscape of unparalleled beauty with cedar trees, sand dunes and deep blue waters.

At the bay of Panagia there are four islets: Xeropoules, Lepto Nisi, Prasonisi and Kassela, the largest island of Elafonisos with an altitude of 18 meters. On the beach of Panagia one can enjoy a magnificent sunset as the sun goes down between the islets.

Above the beach lies the picturesque church of Panagia. Around the church extends the settlement "Kato Nisi". As there are many caves in the area, the local tradition considered the Katonisi as the land of the Cyclopes and the islands of Panagia as the stones they threw on Odysseus's ship.

Outside the islands of Panagia the 2nd Ottoman–Venetian naval battle of Elafonisos took place in 1717 with Admiral Pizanis(Dr. Mentis K. 1993: 60-61), while Kolokotronis was saved in 1806 in these blue waters (Anomitris J. 1984-1996).

Sources

Mentis, Sp. Konstantinos, under publication, Cultural Economy and Sociology of Cultural Tourism, University and Culture Publications of Smigopelagos